ALLENVILLE - Why Joe Marks pulled onto a highway Tuesday morning with a pickup truck approaching is a question law officers cannot answer at this point.

The school administrator died at 8:27 a.m. Tuesday in the emergency room at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon from injuries he received in the crash. The accident occurred at 7:26 a.m. Tuesday on Illinois 121 at Moultrie County Road 1500 East at Allenville, police reported.

Nicholas "Nick" Day of rural Lovington, the pickup driver, was not injured, based on information from Moultrie County Sheriff's Office.

"Mr. Marks was at the intersection and possibly distracted or his vision obstructed when he pulled in front of the truck," Chief Deputy Chris Sims said. "We're unable to determine the cause or reason right now."

Day was southbound in a half-ton pickup truck. He told officers he could not avoid hitting Marks' Jeep after it suddenly entered the roadway.

"He (Day) had no chance to stop. The impact was on the driver's side of the Jeep," Sims said.

The collision pushed the Jeep into a ditch and then a cornfield. Sims said the truck also went into a ditch.

Word spread quickly in the area about the accident. Marks was principal of Sullivan Middle School and technology director with the school district. He also had taught and coached in Arcola, so his death is having an emotional impact there, as well.

"Joe Marks was a person who loved kids, students and his family. And he loved life. He had a positive influence on the community. We're better because of the time we were able to spend with him," said Terry Pearcy, Sullivan school superintendent.

Marks touched many lives of students during his four years in Sullivan, according to locals. He also has a son who attends the high school.

This is the fourth traffic-related death in the area in five days. Three young people died in two accidents in Arcola and near Neoga on Friday.

Herb Meeker can be reached at hmeeker@ jg-tc.com or 238-6869.